Tourist accused of bird-napping flamingo at iconic Las Vegas Strip resort

Noble Brigham, Las Vegas Review-Journal on Mar 4, 2026

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

LAS VEGAS — A Canadian man faces animal cruelty charges after police accused him of breaking in to the flamingo habitat at the iconic Flamingo resort on the Las Vegas Strip early Tuesday morning, injuring birds and taking one back to his room.

Mitchell Fairbarn, 33, remained in custody as of Wednesday afternoon, according to jail records. He faces four counts of torturing, maiming or killing an animal kept for companionship or pleasure.

At a Wednesday hearing, Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Suzan Baucum ordered that his bail would remain $12,000, the booking amount for his charges, after finding prosecutors had proved bail was necessary.

The allegations were “extremely concerning,” she said.

She also ordered that Fairbarn, who lives in Ontario, would be subject to high-level electronic monitoring, surrender his passport, stay away from the Strip and not possess animals.

Fairbarn declined an interview request made through the Metropolitan Police Department, which operates the Clark County Detention Center.

This is not the first time someone has been accused of mistreating a bird at the Flamingo.

Justin Teixeira, a University of California, Berkeley law student, beheaded a guinea fowl at the resort’s wildlife habitat in 2012. He was sentenced to probation and completed a 190-day “regimental discipline” program in the Nevada Department of Corrections.

Other law students accused in that case also took plea deals and served two days each in jail.

Fairbarn told police that he popped a flamingo’s wing back into place, thinking he was being helpful by fixing the bird, but said was drunk and could not recall chasing the birds, according to his arrest report.

“Fairbarn admitted to his actions being repulsive,” police said.

The Metro report lists the victims as society and multiple flamingos, specifically one named “Peachy.”

_____